A perspective on management of Helicoverpa armigera: transgenic Bt cotton,IPM, and landscapes

Helicoverpa armigera is a major pest of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture throughout the Old World and recently invaded parts of the New World. We overview of the evolution in thinking about the application of area‐wide approaches to assist with its control by the Australian Cotton Industry to highlight important lessons and future challenges to achieving the same in the New World. An over‐reliance of broad‐spectrum insecticides led to Helicoverpa spp. in Australian cotton rapidly became resistant to DDT, synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates and endosulfan. Voluntary strategies were developed to slow the development of insecticide resistance, which included rotating chemistries and basing spray decisions on thresholds. Despite adoption of these practices, insecticide resistance continued to develop until the introduction of genetically modified cotton provided a platform for augmenting Integrated Pest Management in the Australian cotton industry. Compliance with mandatory resistance management plans for Bt cotton necessitated a shift from pest control at the level of individual fields or farms towards a coordinated area‐wide landscape approach. Our take‐home message for control of H. armigera is that resistance management is essential in genetically modified crops and must be season long and area‐wide to be effective. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Organic fertilizer amendment promotes wheat resistance to herbivory and biocontrol services via bottom-up effects in agroecosystems

Journal of Pest Science - Excessive mineral fertilizer input results in little extra yield but exacerbates insect herbivory and affects environmental health and ecosystem services. The use of...     

Effect of temperature on the biology of Acyrthosiphon gossypii Mordvilko (Homoptera: Aphididae) on cotton

Acyrthosiphon gossypii is a widespread, major pest of cotton in central Asia. Effects of specific temperatures on A. gossypii development and survival are unknown and would be useful in helping interpret population dynamics and devising management tactics for this pest. In this paper, the effect of temperature on the life table of A. gossypii reared on cotton was evaluated under laboratory conditions using temperatures of 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 °C. The developmental rate of immatures increased exponentially from 18 to an optimum around 27 °C and then declined. The estimated lower developmental threshold was 8.0 °C, and 107.5 degree days were required for development from the first instar to adult. The percentage survival of immature stages varied from 81 to 91 % within the range of 18-27 °C. Survival declined to 27 % at 30 °C. The average longevity of adult females was 15.7, 11.7, 8.2, 5.2, and 2.8 days, and the average number of offspring produced per female was 46, 38, 20, 14, and 0, at temperatures of 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 °C, respectively. From 21-27 °C, the intrinsic rate of increase of A. gossypii was significantly higher than at 18 °C, indicating that 21–27 °C was within the optimal range for the growth of A. gossypii, and that 30 °C constant is beyond the upper limit for reproduction. The observations will form the basis of a forecasting system and could account for the decline of the species on cotton in central Asia as well as other regions during hot summer months.     

Integrated use of biological approaches provides effective control of parthenium weed

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.; Asteraceae) is an invasive weed species in agro-ecosystems. It causes huge losses to native biodiversity and agricultural productivity. This study was conducted to assess the combined effect of a leaf-feeding beetle, (Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister; Chrysomelidae) and suppressive plant species, bull Mitchell grass (Astrebella squrossa C.E. Hubb.; Poaceae) or butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.; Fabaceae) on parthenium weed under shade house conditions. The suppressive plant species significantly reduced the parthenium weed height (16%), biomass (29%) and seed production (42%), in the absence of Z. bicolorata. However, this suppressive ability was further enhanced in the presence of Z. bicolorata. The combined effect of the suppressive plant species and Z. bicolorata further reduced the parthenium weed height (46%), biomass (66%) and seed production (95%). The combination also had a significant negative effect upon seed fill, decreasing the reproductive output of the current generation. The presence of Z. bicolorata also had positive effect on the biomass (10%) and plant height (11%) of both suppressive species. So, the combined use of suppressive plant species and the biological control agent suppressed parthenium weed more effectively than their sole use. Such integrated approaches should be prioritized for future management of parthenium weed.     

The potential of using 15N natural abundance in changing ammonium-N and nitrate-N pools for studying in situ soil N transformations

Purpose

This study examined the usefulness of ¹⁵N natural abundance (δ¹⁵N) with in situ core incubation to quantify the predominant N transformation processes in a natural suburban forest of subtropical Australia, which was subjected to prescribed burning.

Materials and methods

In situ core incubation for 3 days with 20 ml water, or 160.79 ml of 60 mg L^?1 NO₃^?-N surface application, and in situ core with 160.79 ml water but without incubation were set up in Toohey forest for sampling three times as before (once) and after (twice) a prescribed burning. The δ¹⁵N of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^?-N in the top 5 cm soil before and after the incubation, and δ¹⁵N of NO₃^?-N in the 5–10 cm soil before incubation were compared with each other to examine the soil N mineralisation, nitrification, denitrification, and nitrate leaching processes.

Results and discussion

The significant decrease in δ¹⁵N of NH₄⁺-N after incubation under 20 ml water treatment was ascribed to soil N mineralisation, and the significant decrease in δ¹⁵N of NH₄⁺-N and significant increase in δ¹⁵N of NO₃^?-N after incubation with elevated water and nitrate inputs were associated with N mineralisation and nitrification, respectively, 2 months after the burning. The 160.79 ml water treatment also triggered nitrification in the baseline soil cores in both samplings after the burning. Water was crucial to stimulate soil N mineralisation and nitrification, but excessive water depleted labile N pools and reduced N mineralisation and nitrification. Burning effects were hard to separate from the seasonal impacts on soil N cycling processes.

Conclusions

The δ¹⁵N in soil mineral N pools was sensitive to indicate soil N mineralisation and nitrification processes. Soil water and labile N were determining factors for N transformations in the soil. It is suggested that δ¹⁵N combined with soil inorganic N concentrations and net N transformation rates could be used to identify primary N transformation processes. More frequent samplings would be needed to differentiate burning impacts from the seasonal impacts on soil N cycling processes.

     

Towards a resistance management strategy for Helicoverpa armigera in Bt-cotton in northwestern China: an assessment of potential refuge crops

Transgenic Bt-cotton now dominates the cotton-growing belt in northwestern China where there are few natural plant refuges to act as sources of moths susceptible to Bt toxin. As an initial step towards developing an insect resistance management (IRM) plan for the pest moth, Helicoverpa armigera, on Bt-cotton in this part of China, we assessed the potential of six crops grown in two configurations to act as refuge hosts for susceptible moth production in both broad-acre and small-holder farms. Egg and larval abundance indicated that H. armigera had a preference for chickpea, pigeon pea, and corn, over cotton, sorghum, and benne (sesame). There were no significant differences in egg or larval abundance between plot and strip configurations of these crop hosts. We found that sorghum was not attractive to H. armigera, contrary to the findings in other cotton production areas. Moreover, chickpea, pigeon pea, and corn were determined to be potential refuge hosts based on egg and larval abundance over the growing season. From the adult moth population dynamics in broad-acre and small-holder farms, the efficiency of alternative refuge crops, and local agricultural practices, we recommend that spring corn be grown as a strip crop as part of an IRM strategy to improve the probability of Bt-susceptible moth production and mating with resistant moths in broad-acre farms. In small-holder farms where current agricultural practices are entrenched, wheat and summer corn should be evaluated as refuge crops in the future.